Forever Stamps: Price, Value and Types
A Forever stamp is worth the First-Class Mail 1-ounce letter price on the day you mail it, 82¢ in Notice 123 effective October 4, 2026, whenever you bought it.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Sources checked against USPS and Federal Register text on November 2, 2026 · Methodology & sources
What a Forever stamp is worth
“Forever stamps are sold for the price of the current First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter price.”
“The postage value of each forever stamp is the current First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter price.”
The International Mail Manual says the value does not depend on when you bought the stamp (the manual’s wording refers to the machinable letter price):
“A domestic Forever stamp’s value is linked to the domestic First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce machinable letter price that is in effect on the day of use (mailing) regardless of when the stamp is purchased and regardless of how prices may change in the future.”
The price in Notice 123 effective October 4, 2026 is 82¢ for a stamped 1-ounce letter. The stamped price rose from 78¢ on July 12, 2026; the dates and the weight table are on how much is a stamp.
Forever stamp types USPS lists
Section 1.1 of the Domestic Mail Manual lists the First-Class Forever stamp:
“If labelled “Forever”, the current FCM 1-ounce stamped letter price.”
It also lists Forever stamps printed with a price category:
“The following Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the applicable price for the price category printed on them, at the time of use:
The current FCM additional-ounce price
FCM non-machinable surcharge price
FCM 2-ounce stamped letter price
FCM 3-ounce stamped letter price
FCM postcard price”
And the Global Forever stamp:
“If labeled “Global Forever”, the current FCMI 1-ounce stamped letter price.”
| Type | Worth | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Forever (First-Class) | 82¢ | Stamped 1-ounce letter |
| Forever, postcard price | 65¢ | Postcard |
| Global Forever | $1.75 | International 1-ounce letter |
| Formats listed | Value rule in the DMM |
|---|---|
| Panes of up to 24 stamps; booklets of 10 and 20 stamps; sheetlets of 18 stamps; coils of 50, 100, 3,000 and 10,000 stamps | Labelled “Forever”: the 1-ounce stamped letter price (82¢) |
| Panes of up to 20 stamps | Price-category Forever stamps: always equal to the price category printed on them (additional ounce, nonmachinable surcharge, 2-ounce, 3-ounce, postcard) |
| Coils of 100 stamps | The additional-ounce price and the postcard price |
| Panes of up to 20 stamps | Commemorative stamps: the 1-ounce stamped letter price. Labelled “Global Forever”: the 1-ounce international stamped letter price ($1.75) |
Notice 123 does not list a price for the additional-ounce or nonmachinable-surcharge stamp as such; the 29¢ step between the 1, 2, 3 and 3.5-ounce rows is arithmetic on the table.
Books and coils
| Quantity | Total |
|---|---|
| Book of 20 | $16.40 |
| Coil of 100 | $82.00 |
See how much is a book of stamps, the postcard stamp and Global Forever pages, and do stamps expire.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Forever stamp worth?
DMM 604 section 1.10 says the postage value of each Forever stamp is the current First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter price. That is 82¢ in Notice 123 effective October 4, 2026.
If I bought a Forever stamp earlier at a lower price, is it still good?
International Mail Manual 152.31 says a domestic Forever stamp’s value is linked to the 1-ounce machinable letter price in effect on the day of use, regardless of when the stamp is purchased.
What kinds of Forever stamps does USPS list?
DMM 604 section 1.1 lists the First-Class Forever stamp, Forever stamps printed for the additional-ounce price, the nonmachinable surcharge price, the 2-ounce and 3-ounce letter prices and the postcard price, and the Global Forever stamp.
What is a Global Forever stamp worth?
DMM 604 lists a Global Forever stamp at the First-Class Mail International 1-ounce stamped letter price, which is $1.75 in Notice 123.
How much is a book of 20 or a coil of 100 Forever stamps?
By arithmetic, 20 × 82¢ is $16.40 and 100 × 82¢ is $82.00. The USPS store price of a specific book or coil is not copied here.
Do Forever stamps expire?
The Domestic Mail Manual says all postage stamps issued by the United States since 1860 are valid for postage, unless listed in section 1.3. See the page on whether stamps expire for the full text.
More stamp price pages
More USPS postage and fee tools
Sources (checked November 2, 2026): USPS Price List Notice 123 · Notice 123 effective October 4, 2026 (Internet Archive copy) · Notice 123 effective July 12, 2026 (Internet Archive copy) · Notice 123 effective April 26, 2026 (Internet Archive copy) · Domestic Mail Manual 604, section 1.0 Stamps · DMM 604 (Internet Archive copy, October 5, 2026) · International Mail Manual 152.31 (Internet Archive copy, June 19, 2026) · USPS.com prices page · Federal Register 2026-11003: Domestic Mail Manual changes for the July 12, 2026 price adjustments (June 2, 2026) · Federal Register: International Mailing Services: Price Changes (June 16, 2026) · Federal Register: International Mail: Product Rate and Fee Changes (December 7, 2012)